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HR 1001

2016

House Resolution

A resolution condemning the Boycott, Divestment, and

Sanctions (BDS) movement and the increasing incidents

of anti-Semitism.

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WHEREAS, the citizens of the State of Florida have long

opposed bigotry, oppression, discrimination, and injustice as a

matter of public policy, and

WHEREAS, Florida and Israel have enjoyed a long history of

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friendship and are great allies in support of each other's

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interests, and

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WHEREAS, the State of Israel, the only democracy in the

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Middle East, is the greatest friend and ally of the United

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States in that region, and

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WHEREAS, the elected representatives of the state recognize

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the importance of expressing Florida's unwavering support of the

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Jewish people and the State of Israel's right to exist and right

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to self-defense, and

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WHEREAS, there are increasing incidents of anti-Semitism

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throughout the world, including in the United States and in

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Florida, reflected in official hate crime statistics, and

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WHEREAS, the international Boycott, Divestment, and

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Sanctions (BDS) movement is one of the main vehicles for

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spreading anti-Semitic perspectives and advocating the

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elimination of the Jewish State, and

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WHEREAS, activities promoting Boycott, Divestment, and

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Sanctions against Israel have increased in the State of Florida,

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including on university campuses and in other Florida

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communities, and contribute to the promotion of anti-Semitic and

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anti-Zionist propaganda, and

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WHEREAS, the increase in BDS campaign activities on college

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campuses around the country has resulted in increased

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confrontation, intimidation, and discrimination against Jewish

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students, and

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WHEREAS, leaders of the BDS movement express that their

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goal is to eliminate Israel as the national home of the Jewish

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people, and

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WHEREAS, the BDS campaign's call for academic and cultural

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boycotts has been condemned by many of our nation's largest

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academic associations, more than 250 university presidents, and

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many other leading scholars as a violation of the bedrock

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principle of academic freedom, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of

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Florida:

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That the Florida House of Representatives condemns the

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international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement

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against the State of Israel and calls upon its governmental

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institutions to denounce hatred and discrimination whenever they

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appear.
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2016

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be

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presented to the President of the United States, the President

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and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk

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of the United States House of Representatives, and the Israeli

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Embassy in Washington, D.C., for transmission to the proper

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authorities of the State of Israel as a tangible token of the

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sentiments expressed herein.

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